Lunch & Learn
Please join us for RMMI's FREE Masonry Seminars! Make lunchtime count with the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute’s free monthly technical seminars. Each 90- or 120-minute session will be held in RMMI’s training center at 686 Mariposa Street, Denver. RMMI’s technical director, Diane Travis, will teach several seminars that are geared toward architects. RMMI technical consultant Michael Schuller, P.E., of Atkinson-Noland & Associates, will conduct the seminars that are oriented toward engineers. Several guest speakers will present special topics of interest to all design professionals. A courtesy RSVP is requested to attend these valuable short courses. Just choose the session(s) that interest you, bring your own lunch and join us at 11:30 am on the appointed day(s). We’ll provide the education, the sodas and cookies, and the AIA Self Report Forms/Certificates of Participation ! For more information, please give us a call at 303-893-3838 or e-mail info@rmmi.org.
1/7/09 Load Bearing Masonry for Engineers We sometimes forget to take advantage of reinforced masonry’s incredible resistance for load-bearing construction. With the cost of steel sky-rocketing over the last two years, we can save money by turning to load bearing masonry in our projects. We will talk about planning your load bearing masonry project, study some monumental load bearing masonry projects, and review the general design process. Finally, we will give you up-to-date cost information about various wall systems and will help you select the right wall for your project. 1/14/09 Load Bearing Masonry for Architects Don’t ignore the load-bearing possibilities of structural brick and concrete block walls. The cost of steel has been sky-rocketing in the last two years. By comparison, the cost of brick and block has remained stable. This seminar will tell you about software programs that show you how to design load-bearing masonry walls at a click of a mouse. It will also show you how to make structural connections and weather-resisting details. Finally, we will give you up-to-date cost information about various wall systems and will help you select the right wall for your project. 2/4/09 Building a Professional Library For both Architects + Engineers We find ourselves turning to the same masonry design references again and again. Whether it is our favorite design chart, essential software, or just a complete design guide, these references should be on every masonry designer’s bookshelf. Come to this seminar to see our “must-have” list and begin assembling your masonry design library. 2/11/09 Building Dry Single Wythe Walls Single wythe masonry walls can offer significant cost savings but they must be very thoughtfully designed and carefully built to perform well. Mistakes can be costly to repair and can land you in court. This seminar will teach you what to look for when detailing and inspecting single wythe walls to make sure that they stay dry and trouble-free. 3/4/09 Masonry Cost Concerns (Architects + Engineers) LIVE This seminar is aimed at people who want to use masonry (brick, block and stone) but have a tight budget. Some value-engineering options work just fine, but others can significantly affect the long-term viability of the building. It is always better to understand your options before you build the structure. 3/11/09 Masonry Cost Concerns (Architects + Engineers) WEBINAR This seminar is aimed at people who want to use masonry (brick, block and stone) but have a tight budget. Some value-engineering options work just fine, but others can significantly affect the long-term viability of the building. It is always better to understand your options before you build the structure. 4/1/09 Designing Beams and Lintels Masonry beams and lintels are used to span over windows, doors, and other wall openings. We’ll learn about some simple methods to account for masonry arching action, to reduce our lintel design loads, and follow through the design process for reinforced masonry and loose steel lintels. Especially useful will be a discussion of the cost and constructability issues to consider when deciding to use either a reinforced masonry or a loose steel lintel. 4/8/09 Changes to LEED from 2.2 to 2009 Would you like to know what has changed in LEED from version 2.2 to LEED 2009? Join us Wednesday, April 8th for a review of LEED bookshelf system, new credit weights, and regional credits. We will also look at some examples of LEED masonry buildings and the green attributes of brick, block, and stone. 5/6/09 Anchors for Connecting to Existing Construction Whether we are attaching a shelf angle or a new structural component, there are many conditions where we need to install anchors into existing masonry construction. Join in for a discussion of the various types of post-installed anchors, their proper selection, and detailing. We will discuss appropriate anchors for connecting to new and historic buildings, and talk about the different requirements for retrofit applications. 5/13/09 Repairing Historic Buildings Colorado has a rich legacy of masonry structures from the turn of the century which are ripe for remodeling and restoration. Learn about tuckpointing, safe masonry cleaning, stone consolidation and structural stabilization of deteriorating brick walls. Understanding the original construction techniques will help you repair and maintain existing masonry buildings. 6/3/09 Calculating Masonry Deflections Calculating deflections is usually the final step in designing masonry walls, beams, and shear walls. The building code gives limited guidance on calculating and limiting deflections for reinforced systems and part of our discussion will center on deflection criteria to limit cracking in reinforced masonry. We will learn how to calculate deflections in unreinforced and reinforced walls, including cracked section analysis, and a simplified method for calculating shear wall drift. 6/10/09 Cleaning Masonry Walls Cleaning is the last step in building a masonry wall. If you screw up the last step, nobody remembers that you did everything else right. Cleaning mortar smears off integrally-colored, smooth-faced concrete block is the most difficult cleaning task we know. We will have a panel discussion with brick and block manufacturers, industrial cleaning representatives, a couple of commercial cleaning specialists and our own technical director to give you the latest information on this important subject. Everybody who attends will also get a copy of RMMI’s Cleaning Guide. 7/1/09 Masonry Design Software for Engineers There have been many developments in masonry design software over the last 3 years, and we now have several useful packages to help us analyze and design masonry structures. Representatives from three main masonry design software packages will be on hand to demonstrate their software. Come to this seminar to learn about the benefits of each program so you can decide which is best for your office. 7/8/09 Masonry Design Software for Architects Description TBA 8/5/09 Managing Your Construction Project Panel Discussion (Arch + Engineers) A successful masonry construction project requires careful coordination of the masonry trade. Representatives of several of the larger construction management firms will be on the panel to offer their insight into what designers can do to help make sure their projects run smoothly. This is your opportunity to ask questions of an experienced group of construction managers! 8/12/09 Workmanship Issues for Masonry Construction We produced this seminar for the Brick Industry Association to teach brick salesmen (and owners and architects) how to judge the quality of masonry work on the job site. It is always good to know what to look for on the job site. 9/2/09 Thermal/Moisture Analysis of Masonry Renewed interest in energy efficiency and the entire green building movement is forcing designers to take a more detailed look at wall system performance. Special design software (some of it is even downloadable for free!) gives us the capability to model different aspects of masonry walls, including a range of backup systems and insulation options. Learn how to use these simulations to evaluate wall thermal resistance, predict dewpoint within the wall system, and model wetting and drying cycles to fine-tune your design. 9/9/09 Building Weather Resistant Masonry Walls It is very important to keep water out of masonry walls, and to design wall systems to allow for the release of moisture. Freeze-thaw cycles can destroy brick, block and stone. Water trapped in any wall system can lead to mold problems, an expensive problem to remedy. This seminar takes a broad look at the challenge and gives advice about: good materials; good design; good craftsmanship; and good maintenance. 10/7/09 Structural Connections that Work Anchor bolts and embed plates are used on almost every project to connect structural members or equipment to masonry walls, but they can be difficult to design and even harder for the mason to install. Learn about designing connections using the MSJC code, and how to detail floor-to-wall connections properly to simplify installation and save money on your project. 10/14/09 Continuous Insulation in Masonry Walls The new International Energy Code for Conservation has finally recognized the fact that batt insulation installed in a stud wall loses 40% to 60% of its insulation value by letting heat escape through the thermal bridging of the studs. The IECC now requires a continuous layer of insulation in the wall assembly. This layer of rigid insulation, typically installed in the air cavity, can complicate installation of the air barrier and the masonry ties. This seminar will present several workable detail options and will teach you how to build them right. 11/4/09 Designing Expansion and Control Joints LIVE Most designers understand that brick masonry tends to expand over time, and concrete masonry shrinks after it is manufactured. But what is the difference between expansion joints and control joints and where do we place them? In this seminar we will learn that we can use simple calculations, following building code and industry requirements, to design joint width and spacing. We’ll also see typical joint details and talk about specific movement-related situations to avoid. 11/11/09 Expansion and Control Joints WEBINAR Control Joints are the small, flexible seams in a masonry veneer that allow the building to move slightly without cracking. Although most architects do not like control joints, they dislike cracks in the wall even more. This class will teach you how to anticipate cracks in a masonry wall and avoid problems by installing proper control joints. We will even teach you how to eliminate a few control joints. 12/2/09 Load Bearing Masonry for Engineers This seminar will be a re-presentation of January’s class. We present this year’s top seminar twice to accommodate folks who cannot attend the first one. We sometimes forget to take advantage of reinforced masonry’s incredible resistance for load-bearing construction. With the cost of steel sky-rocketing over the last two years, we can save money by turning to load bearing masonry in our projects. We will talk about planning your load bearing masonry project, study some monumental load bearing masonry projects, and review the general design process. Finally, we will give you up-to-date cost information about various wall systems and will help you select the right wall for your project. 12/11/09 Load Bearing Masonry for Architects This seminar will be a re-presentation of January’s class. We present this year’s top seminar twice to accommodate folks who cannot attend the first one. Don’t ignore the load-bearing possibilities of structural brick and concrete block walls. The cost of steel has been sky-rocketing in the last two years. By comparison, the cost of brick and block has remained stable. This seminar will tell you about software programs that show you how to design load-bearing masonry walls at a click of a mouse. It will also show you how to make structural connections and weather-resisting details. Finally, we will give you up-to-date cost information about various wall systems and will help you select the right wall for your project.
Remember: All sessions will be held at the RMMI Training Center, |